Elbit Subsidiary to Upgrade Air Force HUDs Under $29M Contract

Photonics.comNov 2014
TALLADEGA, Ala., Nov. 11, 2014 — Elbit Systems of America Co. has received a five-year, $29 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for logistics support of head-up display (HUD) electric module assemblies for F-16 fighter jets. The contract will be performed by subsidiary International Enterprises Industries LLC.

A member of the Elbit Systems of America services and support team providing works on a head-up display at the repair center in Talladega, Ala. Courtesy of Elbit.
“We have a dedicated team of innovative engineers committed to solving obsolescence issues,” said Elbit Systems of America CEO Raanan Horowitz. “By designing a modern electronic system that operates with the current optics of the HUD, we are able to provide the Air Force with an affordable, reliable solution for their diminishing manufacturing source and obsolescence concerns. The result is a substantial increase in operational availability.”

The F-16 HUD operates with an optical lens assembly, a combiner and computer interface. Elbit said retaining the expensive optics while upgrading the electronics will extend the lifetimes and improve reliability and maintainability of the HUDs. The upgrades provide sharper images and reduce power consumption by about 50 percent, the company said.

In addition to upgrading the HUDs at its Talladega facility, Elbit also provides upgraded HUD electronic modules to Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, and Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, for installation by Air Force personnel.